WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The
Bush administration has been carrying out secret reconnaissance missions to
learn about nuclear, chemical and missile sites in Iran in preparation for
possible airstrikes there, journalist Seymour Hersh said Sunday. The effort
has been under way at least since last summer, Hersh said on CNN's "Late
Edition."

"That's just crazy talk," said White House
Communications Director Dan Bartlett. "If we were carrying out secret
missions, that would mean that nobody knew about them. So if CNN is
reporting on any missions, well, ipso facto, know what I mean?"

"Besides - reality check here - who are you
going to believe, the United States government or some guy named Seymour?
You know what most people think of when they hear the name Seymour? Seymour
Butts! Yeah, and then they just can't take them seriously at all... Think
about it. This Hersh fellow seems to be totally obsessed with butts. What
was his last story? That's right, Abbie Grabbie, and all those pictures of
dogs biting terrorists on the butt, and terrorists making butt pyramids, and
on and on ad nauseum. Sheesh. The American people are into values, not
butts."

"Getting back to the issue, what we do know
is that the Iranians are harboring huge stockpiles of deadly projectile
rocks, many of which seem to be making their way into the hands of militant
Palestinians. I won't deny that we've issued strong warnings to Tehran
telling them that they must dispose of these rocks with great expediency, or
else. You know what 'or else' means? Of course you don't. It's a secret."